It is always nice to see an ex Skyliner legend back in Basketball City Mainhatten as few can forget Alex King who won his first meaning full title then as a young 19 year old under the guidance of World Cup champion Gordon Herbert in 2004. After an illustrious playing career, King now is coaching Wurzburg´s farm team who he led into the Pro B last season. After a disastrous 6 game losing streak to start the season that saw 2 heart breaking 1 point loses, the team has found themselves now having registered a 3 game winning streak led by Hannes Steinbach (206-F/C-2006) and Calvin Wishart. Their opponent Frankfurt Skyliners Juniors had their 3 game winning streak snapped in Leitershofen last weekend and were focused to get back to their winning ways. On a mild December night the 5-4 Skyliners Juniors met the 3-6 Wurzburg team and came out flat and were never able to recover losing 89-80. They were unable to contain the dynamic duo of Steinbach and Wishart as they combined for 49 points. “We didn´t have the right mentality or energy at both ends of the court. We weren´t aggressive enough and didn´t get to the free throw line enough. Our 1-1 defense was a problem as was team defense”, stressed Frankfurt Skyliner Junior Namori Omog. VR-Bank Wurzburg Baskets Akademie came out focused from the get go and just got a great team effort at both ends of the court and never let up for 40 minutes. “We were aggressive and did a good job remaining poised when they pressured us. We were able to match their physicality and stuck to our game plan trying to get Kordel into foul trouble. We took what the defense gave us and did a good job on the offensive glass and got 50/50 balls”, stressed Wurzburg guard Calvin Wishart.

Jamie Edoka at the FT line

VR-Bank Wurzburg Baskets Akademie jumped all over Frankfurt in the first minutes to lead 10-2 and led 26-16 after 10 minutes. Big German talent Hannes Steinbach who averaged 14/10 at the AST last season produced 5 points and American Calvin Wishart from Minnesota nailed a trey. Wurzburg showed nice inside out ball, but it was evident that they tried to really feed Steinbach the ball who was unstoppable. German Felix Hecker got Frankfurt on the board at 7,53 to trail 10-2. Before Frankfurt knew what hit them again, they trailed 21-10 as Steinbach continued to be dominant scoring 3 times while Wishart made free throws. Frankfurt had massive problems with their 1-1 defense while inside there was no help and Kordel was absent on the bench stuck with 2 fouls. “Steinbach is big, has long arms and makes long steps. All he needs is to take a few dribbles and he can score easily even if 5 guys are guarding him”, said Namori Omog. Frankfurt got some vital buckets inside from Hecker and Omog to stay on track, but they just couldn´t make a run or get consecutive stops as they trailed 26-16 after one quarter. VR-Bank Wurzburg Baskets Akademie shot 53% from the field and 40% from outside and had 10 rebounds and 3 turnovers while the Frankfurt Skyliners juniors shot 35% from the field and 0% from outside and had 8 rebounds and 4 turnovers. “We were aggressive and set the tone. We gave them the feeling early that they can´t mess with us. We got Steinbach involved early and he showed that he can do it all”, stated Calvin Wishart.

Malicl Kordel hook shot

In the second quarter VR-Bank Wurzburg Baskets Akademie continued to control the game and despite a run by Frankfurt had the comfortable 52-43 advantage at half-time. Omog who is best known for his lethal drive stroked home a trey as Frankfurt trailed 26-19. But on this night, the guests always had an answer getting baskets from Lithuanian player Matas Narvilas and Steinbach and Wishart to lead 33-21. After a Kordel lay in and a Crnjac dunk, Wurzburg countered with a Lukas Roth trey and Narvilas lay in as Frankfurt trailed 38-25. Frankfurt´s offense was executing a lot better and was rewarded with a 8-2 run to trail 40-33. In the run, Frankfurt got a three pointer from Crnjac, Edoka dunk and Kordel lay in. After a Narvila three pointer, Frankfurt went on a 10-4 run and continued to crawl closer trailing 47-43. In the run, Frankfurt got massive support from NBBL player Julius Messer who connected on 2 three´s. He had been injured for some time and returned being very efficient. “I told him not to think so much, but just play his game and do what he does best. His confidence rose after he saw one go in. We both harmonize well together on the court”, stated Namori Omog. Frankfurt was unable to take that momentum into the break as Steinbach continued to do what he wanted to hitting another trey and David Gerhart made a jumper as Wurzburg led 52-43. “It was a game of runs. We wanted our runs to be longer. We wanted to cut off their water and make the needed adjustments”, stated Calvin Wishart. VR-Bank Wurzburg Baskets Akademie shot 49% from the field and 31% from the three point line and had 17 rebounds and 3 turnovers while the Frankfurt Skyliners Juniors shot 55% from the field and 29% from the three point line and had 16 rebounds and 10 turnovers.

Calvin Wishart at the FT line

In the third quarter VR-Bank Wurzburg Baskets Akademie continued to control the game and stepped up their defense a bit and upped their lead to 15 points after 30 minutes. Ex Iserlohn big man Malik Kordel gave Frankfurt some energy with 2 massive dunks as he was put into perfect position, but Frankfurt´s 1-1 defense let them down all night long as Steinbach hit another three pointer and ex FC Bayern Munich 2 player Christian Skladanowski made a lay in for the 59-47 lead. The German seemed to be all over the court and finished with 11 points. “He does a bit of everything and is very athletic at the 4 spot and is always in the right spot on defense. He is the classic utility player and was big for us”, added Calvin Wishart. Frankfurt got free throws from Jamie Edoka and a lay in by Crnjac, but Wurzburg simply didn´t have any down phases with their offensive execution. Wurzburg continued to attack the paint and received lay in´s from Wishart and Skladanowski for the 64-51 advantage. Despite Steinbach making back to back lay in´s, Frankfurt got more great support from NBBL (U-19) players Julius Messer who added 5 points and Omog made a lay in in traffic to trail 73-58 after 3 quarters. “Steinbach and I play well together. He can do it all. My dad always say Bill Russell and Bob Cousy with me being Cousy”, smiled Calvin Wishart. VR-Bank Wurzburg Baskets Akademie shot 46% from the field and 27% from the parking lot and had 28 rebounds and 7 turnovers while the Frankfurt Skyliners Juniors shot 51% from the field and 26% from the parking lot and had 26 rebounds and 17 turnovers.

Julius Messer from down town

In the fourth quarter the Frankfurt Skyliners Juniors made 1 last comeback attempt cutting the lead down to 6 points, but they just couldn´t get over the hump as time ran out. Kordel got Frankfurt it´s first field goal of the fourth quarter with a pretty hook shot to trail 73-60. But VR-Bank Wurzburg Baskets Akademie just continued to execute well on offense as Wishart made a deep three over Peters and ex Speyer guard David Pisic made a pull up jumper for the 78-60 advantage. Both clubs went on mini runs as more NBBL power came from Omog with a trey and a Maxi Peters lay in, but Wurzburg punched back with a Lukas Roth three pointer and Narvilas 20 footer as Frankfurt trailed 83-65. But Frankfurt still had some energy as they punched back with a 12-1 run to trail 84-77. In the run, 16 year old Jamie Edoka gave massive energy with 5 baskets in a row. He showed that he could take responsibility like no other player that age ever has in a Pro B game. He made a 15 footer, dunk, runner and lay in showing his extreme offensive versatility. Hecker added a trey to trail 86-80 with 1,15 to play. “They put extra pressure on us which led to turnovers. We became to hesistant on offense”, said Calvin Wishart. However Wurzburg slammed the door shut with Narvilas and Steinbach free throws for the win. “We stayed patient and cool and closed out the game with free throws”, added Calvin Wishart. “We were aggressive, but we ran out of time. Offensive rebounds and 50/50 balls did us in”, expressed Namori Omog. VR-Bank Wurzburg Baskets Akademie were led by Hannes Steinbach with 28 points and 12 rebounds and Calvin Wishart added 21 points while the Frankfurt Skyliners Juniors were led by Jamie Edoka with 16 points while Namori Omog added 14 points and Malick Kordel 13 points. VR-Bank Wurzburg Baskets Akademie sho40% from the field and 28% from outside and had 41 rebounds and 11 turnovers while the Frankfurt Skyliners shot 52% from the field and 27% from outside and had 39 rebounds and 21 turnovers.